Floor cleaning machine



0. 1 LJ. CY WEN "2,406,247.

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE Original Filed may 17, 1941 Patented Aug. 20, 1946 Ira June Owen,

Laguna Beach, Calif., assignor to- Julius H. Kiel and Robert B. Kiel, Wilmette,

Ill.

Original application 394,007. Divided May 17, 1941, Serial No. and this application April 2 1, 1942, Serial No. 439,903

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to improvements in floor cleaning machines and, more particularly, to improvements in tool handle connections whereby a surface treating machine may be manipulated by a user. The invention is particularly adapted for use with traction and power driven machines of the carpet sweeper-type described and claimed in my copending applications Serial No. 363,345, filed October 29, 1940, and Serial No. 394,007, filed May 17, 1941. This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 394,007, now Patent Number 2,316,709, dated April 13, 1943.

An object of the invention is the provision of spaced therefrom a detent pin 5. The studs and detent pins may be anchored in the lugs of the an improved machine and handle arrangement 1 providing easy manipulation of the handle and cooperating machine when in use, and providing a resilient upright support for the handle when the machine is not being used.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of improved tool handle connections for use with molded plastic bodies, and the pro- .vision of a simplified structure economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a broken top plan view showing the sweeper and handle combination.

Fig. 2 is an end plan view partly in section of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the ferrule and Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the ferrule and strap connections.

Having reference to the drawing wherein the invention is shown embodied in a motor driven carpet sweeper, l indicates the machine housing which is preferably, though not necessarily, of the one piece molded plastic type. The housing carries sweeper mechanism described and claimed in the above identified application which forms no part of this invention, as other specific machines may be used. The housing is provided with a contoured top and has a centrally disposed motor enclosing dome-shaped portion 2 provided on opposite sides thereof with substantially parallel vertically extending bosses or lugs 3 affording mountings for the tool handle and its connections. The bosses are enlargements of the housing stock serving as reinforcements for the housing and as substantial supports for the tool handle connections.

The mounting lugs 3 of the housing are each provided with a mounting stud 4 and vertically housing in the molding operation or may be otherwise secured. The bolts have a pivotal bearing surface extending outwardly of the housing a distance greater than the thickness of a cooperating bail strap and are provided at their outer ends with enlarged head portions 6 forming stops. The detent pins extend outwardly of the housing and have their outer ends rounded or tapered to provide a cam surface.

The structure hereinbefore described is, arranged to be pushed over a surface to be cleaned by a handle I telescoped at its lower end within a split metal ferrule or receiving member 8, to which it is detachably connected by a bolt 9 passing through the handle and opposite sides of the ferrule, The ferrule has its lower end cut away on opposite sides to provide bail strap receiving recesses l0 and downwardly extending lugs l I and :2 which, after insertion of the bail strap I3, are bent around into contact with the lower surface of the bail strap at its center after which the lugs and strap assembly may be spot welded to provide a rigid structure.

The bail strap is preferably of strap metal stock bent into inverted U shape providing parallel depending resilient ends. The depending ends of the bail are apertured for pivotal association with the extended bearing portion of the studs 4 passing through the lugs 3 of the housing. The bearing surface of thestuds outside of the housing is widerthan the thickness of the bail strap to allow slight outward flexing of the bail strap ends. If desired, a small spring may be interposed between the head of the stud and the bail end.

The bail strap ends above the points of pivotal connection with the studs are provided with small apertures l4 adapted to receive the outer rounded end of the detent pins 5 anchored in the housing. In this arrangement, when the bail is moved into the vertical position. its ends are forced outwardly by the cam action of the ends of the detent pins until the detent pin registers with the aperture l4 to seat therein and retain the bailand associated handle in the upright position.

The bail strap is preformed with its depending ends substantially parallel so as to fit over the lugs on the housing. In using the device, the handle is swung from the vertical position, wherein the detent pins are positioned in the apertures of the bail, to the normal angle of use. In this movement ends of the detent pins act as cams to force the ends of the bail strap outwardly along the bearing studs until the detent pins clear the bail not in use. I

2;; In a carpet sweeper, a molded one-piece 3 7 stock and the ends of the bail resume the normal position. The resiliency of the bail strap metal is suflicient to maintain it in its normal preformed state but if desired aiding springs may be used between the head of the bearing stud and the strap.

The arrangement desired provides an advantageous one, especially for molded products.

Parts are easily formed from standard metal.

stock and the split clamping ferrule advantae geously allows for greater tolerance in handle size. Moreover; the ferrule and hail strap form a strong rigid structure when the underlying lugs are bent into clamped position and are spot welded to the strap.

While the invention has beendescribed in connection with a specific embodiment, words used are those of description rather than of limitation,

and practice of the inventionrwithin the scope'of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the true) scope and. spirit of the I invention in all its aspects.

I claim: V I

1. In a carpet sweeper a molded one-piece housing. having substantially vertical sides and a curved top, said top being provided with a central raised dome provided on opposite sides thereof with reinforcing and mounting lugs, a pivotal mounting bolt in each of said lugs'projectingout- Wardly therefrom to detachably receive the ends of a handle bail, a projecting'detent disposed vertically above said mounting-bolt in each of said lugs; and an operating handle having a strap-like bail straddling'said dome, said bailhaving vertically aligned apertures in the end thereof for cooperation with said mountin bolt and detent, the bail and its mounting being so constructed and arranged that the bail may pivot on the mounting bolt during operationrofthe machine 1 and may be retained in avertical position by the when the machine is detents and hail apertures housing having substantiallyvertical sides and a curved top portion provided with a central dome with oppositely disposed reinforcing and mounting lugs, a handle structure comprising an inverted U-sha-ped bail of strap metal having vertically aligned apertures at the ends thereof, means for pivotally mounting said handle over the dome, said means comprising aligned pivot studs projecting from opposite sides of the dome and detent pins imbedded in the reinforcing lugs of the housing and projecting outwardly therefrom to engage apertures in the bail strap to retain the handle in a vertical position.

, 3. Inva carpet sweeper, a molded one-piece housing having substantially vertical sides and a curved top portion provided with a'central dome with oppositely disposed reinforcing and mounting' lugs, a handle structure comprising an ine verted U-shaped bail of strap metal having vertically aligned apertures, at the ends thereof, means for pivotally mounting said'handle over the. dome, said means'cornprising aligned pivot studs projectin'gfrom opposite sides of the dome, said studshaving bearing. portions wider than the thickness of the bail strap to allow for outward flexing of the bail ends, and projecting detents disposed vertically above said studs adapted to outwardly on the pivot studs inpassage ofithe liandle to the vertical. position.

=1, In combination, a molded'one-piece housing havin a dome shaped top portion. provided with thickened portions onopposite'sides thereof re inforcing and mounting lugs, aligned pivot studs projecting outwardly from said lugs, a detent projecting outwardly from each of the-lugs and disposed vertically above the p-ivotistuds, an inverted U,-shaped metal strap. having its'ends apertured in alignment for pivotal engagement on the pivot studs and for holding engagement with the detents when in vertical position, and means centrally of said str p for detachable engagement witha handle. I

IRA J. OWEN. 

